General Information

5th place in the 2000 Olympic Games

impressive record since the beginning of 2001, with 33 victories in 36 matches – all of them against teams that participate in the upcoming World Cup

won all three tournaments they participated in in 2001, the Panasonic Cup in Hamburg in June (other participants were Korea, the Netherlands, and Pakistan), the Azlan Shah Cup in August, and the Champions Trophy in November, and did not lose a single match in these tournaments

The Game

relies on disciplined teamwork, standardized moves and highly optimized passing rather than spectacular individual actions, thus often facing criticism for lacking creativity and flair

success also builds on the superior physical fitness of the players who seemingly never relent or tire, neither in freezing rain, nor sweltering heat

plays are often set up by sweeper Florian Kunz, whose specialty are hard hits that with utmost precision find their way through the tiniest gaps, landing on the stick of a forward at the opposing team’s D, and balls lifted almost over the entire field

The Team

extremely experienced – average number of caps exceeds 130, thanks to players like Christian Mayerhöfer, with 293 caps Germany’s most capped player ever, or Björn Michel, who prides himself on 239 caps and 150 goals

four players participated in last year’s Junior World Cup, where Germany finished 3rd behind India and Argentina

Players to Watch

Team captain Florian Kunz is one of five nominees on the FIH’s short list for the Player of the Year award, was voted Player of the Tournament in both last year’s Azlan Shah Cup and Champions Trophy, and claimed the title of top scorer at the Champions’ Trophy with 10 goals – 6 from short corners, 4 from penalty strokes.

Veteran Christoph Bechmann, held in high esteem by national coach Bernhard Peters for his unconventional ideas and creative style, tore his Achilles’ tendon at the beginning of July 2001, but speeded through rehabilitation, attending a training camp with the national team after only five months and celebrating a comeback in Germany’s game against South Africa on January 17, 2002.

Young midfielder Tibor Weissenborn at the tender age of 20 possesses 103 caps and is nominated for the FIH Young Player of the Year award.

Striker Sascha Reinelt is one of the team’s top scorers, always highly dangerous.

Philipp Crone constitutes the heart of Germany’s defense together with Florian Kunz, but sustained an injury of the ankle joint in an unlucky incident in his team’s game on February 3, against Spain, but is fit for the World Cup.

Recent Matches against Round Robin Opponents

Feb. 18, 2002, Kuantan (Malaysia): Germany vs. Netherlands 1-3

Feb. 3, 2002, Barcelona, Spain: Germany vs. Spain 4-1

Feb.1, 2002, Barcelona, Spain: Germany vs. Spain 1-0

Jan. 23, 2002, Durban, RSA: Germany vs. South Africa 7-0

Jan. 21, 2002, Durban, RSA: Germany vs. South Africa 2-2

Jan. 20, 2002, Durban, RSA: Germany vs. South Africa 3-2

Jan. 18, 2002, Durban, RSA: Germany vs. South Africa 3-1

Jan. 17 2002, Durban, RSA: Germany vs. South Africa 4-2

Nov. 10, 2001, Rotterdam, NL (Champions Trophy): Germany vs. Netherlands 3-2

Nov. 7, 2001, Rotterdam, NL (Champions Trophy): Germany vs. Pakistan 5-4

Quotes

 What others say about them....

 Juan Escarré (Spain): “Germany have a good running style of hockey.” (The New Straits Times)

 Indian coach Cedric d’souza: “The base of any German team’s game-plan is to wear you down and ultimately break you. Their systematic game and tactical play makes them one of the most feared teams in the world.” (rediff.com)